Microsoft® .NET is a set of Microsoft software technologies for connecting your world of information, people, systems, and devices. It enables an unprecedented level of software integration through the use of XML Web services: small, discrete, building-block applications that connect to each other-as well as to other, larger applications-via the Internet. .NET-connected software delivers what developers need to create XML Web services and stitch them together. The benefit to individuals is seamless, compelling experiences with information sharing.

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2). What is the .NET Framework?

The .NET Framework is the programming model of the .NET platform for building, deploying, and running XML Web services and applications. It manages much of the plumbing, enabling developers to focus on writing the business logic code for their applications. The .NET Framework includes the common language runtime and class libraries.

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3). What is the Common Language Runtime?

The common language runtime (CLR) is responsible for run-time services such as language integration, security enforcement, and memory, process, and thread management. In addition, it has a role at development time when features such as lifetime management, strong type naming, cross-language exception handling, dynamic binding, etc. reduce the amount of code a developer must write to turn business logic into a reusable component. The CLR provides the machine specific interfaces for the other .NET Framework components.

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4). What are the .NET Class Libraries?

The .NET Class Libraries are component-based building blocks for .NET. All of the functionality of the .NET Framework is built upon the .NET Class Libraries. All of the .NET Class Libraries can be used from any language and from any type of .NET application. Additionally, the functionality of the .NET Class Libraries can be augmented/switched-out by inheritance if needed. A summary of the .NET Class Libraries is as follows:

• Base classes provide standard functionality such as input/output, string manipulation, security management, network communications, thread management, text management, and other functions.
• Data classes support persistent data management and include SQL classes for manipulating persistent data stores through a standard SQL interface.
• XML classes enable XML data manipulation and XML searching and translations.
• XML Web service classes support the development of lightweight distributed components, which will work even in the face of firewalls and network address translation (NAT) software.
• Web Forms include classes that enable you to rapidly develop Web graphical user interface (GUI) applications.
• Windows Forms support a set of classes that allow you to develop Windows-based GUI applications-facilitating drag-and-drop GUI development and providing a common, consistent development interface across all languages supported by the .NET Framework.

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5). What are some of the features of the .NET Framework?

Here is a brief outline of some of the many features provided by the .NET Framework:

Rapid Development

• ASP.NET controls - These controls increase productivity by encapsulating complex interactions in server-side components.
• Separation of code and content in ASP.NET - Enables Web developers and content creators to work in parallel by keeping the content in a file separate from the application code.
• Unified programming framework - Increases developer productivity by making application development simple and raising the level of abstraction so the developer needs to write less plumbing.
• Multilanguage support - Improves productivity by giving users the choice to use the language that's best suited to the job or that has the deepest talent pool. Decreases time-to-market by increasing code reuse through cross-language inheritance.

Simple Integration

• XML Web services - Enable developers to easily turn their applications into XML Web services with a single line of code or by setting a simple attribute.
• Deep SOAP support - All inter-process communication is done using the SOAP standard.
• Automatic WSDL generation - The .NET Framework turns standard applications into XML Web services automatically when the developer commands it, using the Web Services Description Language (WSDL).
• ADO.NET designed for the Web - Using an asynchronous, loosely coupled, XML-based communication infrastructure, ADO.NET takes database access to the Web smoothly.

Reliable Operations

• Caching - ASP.NET caching features include partial-page caching and maintenance of the cache state even when a file is changed. You can set conditions for emptying and re-querying the cache.
• Store session data - Easily develop applications for Web farms and Web gardens by storing session data in a central database.
• "No-touch" deployment - No more "DLL hell." By default, all applications are self-contained and can be installed using XCOPY. This makes it possible to install desktop applications on client computers using a remote Web server.
• Message queuing - Take advantage of the message queuing support for designing reliable, robust applications, including mobile applications.

By using the Internet to enable software applications to more easily work together, Microsoft® .NET promises easier integration within and between businesses, while creating opportunities to more meaningfully connect with consumers. With .NET software and services, businesses can realize improvements in the time and cost associated with developing and maintaining their business applications, as well as benefiting from empowering employees with the ability to act on vital information anywhere, from any smart device.

• .NET will deliver best of breed integration for businesses.
• Exposing XML Web services increases potential reach and exposure, creating new business opportunities.
• .NET promises substantial savings in development costs, as well as creating new revenue streams, through the use of XML Web services.

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2). What does .NET mean for users?

The Microsoft .NET experience is a dramatically more personal, integrated computing experience using connected XML Web services delivered through smart devices...

• Personal and integrated experience. In contrast to silos of information divided by provider, .NET experiences are centered around the user, integrating their data and preferences into a single application.
• Connected XML Web services. Through the use of XML and SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), a range of services tailored to the needs of the user can be fed into a single, integrated experience.
• Interactions delivered through smart devices. Users experience .NET through their interactions with smart devices. Smart devices are Web enabled appliances, such as personal computers, handheld computers, and smart phones, with software that makes them more intelligent in their interactions with users, the network, information, other devices, and services.

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3). How manageable is .NET?

Microsoft has many tools and technologies designed to make the .NET platform manageable-now and as applications evolve. The reliance of XML and SOAP as underlying technologies for the .NET platform ensures greater system interoperability between systems, improving the management of applications and services. Current technologies and products include:

• Microsoft Windows® 2000 Server to manage directory, events, and distributed clients.
• Microsoft Windows Datacenter Server for guaranteed reliability.
• Microsoft SQL Server® 2000 to manage XML data.
• Microsoft BizTalk™ Server to manage events, processes, and contracts across diverse systems.
• Microsoft Application Center Server to manage clusters.
• Digital Rights Management (DRM) for managing authorization of content.
• Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) to promote XML Web services to third parties.

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4). How scalable is .NET?

Through the use of .NET server technology-the ability to reuse and update XML Web services on the fly as well as distributing computing power across multiple devices-.NET offers a highly scalable platform.

• Scale out with Microsoft Windows Server, SQL Server 2000, and Application Center 2000.
• Scale up with Microsoft Windows Server and SQL Server 2000.
• Use smart devices and XML Web services to break the linear scaling dynamic. By distributing computing to the edge of the network (where there is an abundance of computing power), the bottleneck of server processing power can be removed. By making it simple for the services which are the building blocks of applications to be distributed anywhere on the network, other bottlenecks can be eliminated or minimized, as well.

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5). How does .NET address security and privacy concerns?

.NET will provide strong privacy protection by placing users in control of their own data. Users will dictate which people and applications can access or alter particular pieces of their personal data. These permissions are associated with binding privacy policies which outlive specific transactions.

Effective security requires a combination of secure software and good operational practices, physical security, and license agreements. Some of the current and upcoming software security programs and technologies that are part of the .NET platform include:

• Microsoft Windows for Kerberos, the Microsoft Active Directory® service, PKI, EFS, and IP Sec.
• Building block services for simple, private, and secure experiences with full user control of the data they own.
• XML messaging interfaces on the building block services, which enable auditing and accountability.
• Digital Rights Management (DRM) for authorization of content.

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6). What are "smart devices"?

.NET uses software for smart devices to enable PCs, laptops, workstations, smart phones, handheld computers, Tablet PCs, game consoles, and other smart devices to operate in the .NET universe. A smart device is:

• Smart about you. A smart device uses your .NET identity, profile, and data to simplify your experience and is smart about your presence, allowing tailoring of notifications in response to your presence or absence.
• Smart about the network. A smart device is responsive to bandwidth constraints, provides support for both online and offline use of applications, and understands which services are available.
• Smart about information. A smart device allows you to access, analyze, and act on data anywhere anytime.
• Smart about other devices. A smart device discovers and announces PCs, other smart devices, servers, and the Internet; knows how to provide services to other devices; smart about accessing information from the PC.
• Smart about software and services. A smart device presents applications and data optimally for form factor; enables input methods and connectivity appropriate for great end-user interaction; consumes Web services using XML, SOAP, and UDDI; and programmable and extensible by developers.

Through the use of Microsoft® Visual Studio® .NET and the .NET Framework, Microsoft provides developers with a full set of development tools to quickly and easily create state-of-the-art applications and XML Web services.

• Microsoft .NET, through Visual Studio .NET and the .NET Framework, will enable more rapid development of software applications and services.
• The .NET Framework and Visual Studio .NET will provide greater reliability for applications and XML Web services.
• The use of XML Web services will allow applications and services created on the .NET platform to integrate more easily and efficiently.

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2). How does .NET differ from previous Microsoft development platforms?

.NET provides a complete, unified development framework - all prevailing programming models (WS, Components, Web, Desktop, etc.) use the same framework. Developers only have to learn one development to model to build these various applications.

.NET provides language independence - All languages are first-class players. The full power of the .NET Framework is available to all supported dialects. Organizations can leverage their existing IT talent(e.g. Cobol, VB, C++, even Java)

Visual Studio .net provides one development console to build and deploy all of these applications. Plus with new and improved features (such as Enterprise templates, Object oriented modeling and development, and Assembly based deployment), architecting, developing, and deploying mission-critical enterprise application has never been easier.

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3). What is the Common Language Runtime (CLR)?

Given that Web Services are located, defined, and accessed via XML (UDDI, WSDL, and SOAP) any processes that need to have heterogeneous (e.g. cross-platform) or firewall-restricted access (e.g. external, departmental, centralized process) are prime candidates to be implemented via Web Services. Web Services will allow unlike platforms/application to speak to one another consistently and provide secure and encrypted transport over widely accepted Internet protocols (e.g. HTTP, SMTP, etc.).

Existing application that use binary interfaces (e.g. COM, CORBA, and Java) need not be rewritten as Web Services. Often Web Service wrappers can be placed around existing business logic to facilitate Web Service communications. However, since the Web Service protocols are text-based, infrastructure-based performance enhancements may be needed to match the native speed of components that use like binary interfaces.

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4). How will .NET enable software to be developed faster?

Through the use of the common language runtime, a part of the .NET Framework, developers can create XML Web services using any modern programming language, greatly increasing the pool of available developer resources as well as allowing developers the freedom to use the programming language most suited to solve the problem at hand. Also, Visual Studio .NET largely automates the transformation of an application into an XML Web service, decreasing the time and effort necessary to quickly create and deploy solutions. XML by its nature separates data from how it is displayed. Uncoupling the display characteristics from the .NET experience makes it easy to add new interface technologies, like speech and handwriting recognition, without needing to rewrite the application.

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5). How will .NET improve the reliability of the software?

The .NET Framework enforces type safety, explicit code sharing, and application isolation, guaranteeing that no XML Web service can affect or illegally call another. Also, the common language runtime provides for a managed execution environment eliminating memory leaks, access violations, and versioning problems. Finally, by harnessing the abundance of processing power and bandwidth currently available, the .NET platform takes advantage of the power of distributed computing. Processing occurs wherever it makes the most sense or wherever the XML Web service resides, spreading out the CPU load and reducing network traffic.

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6). How will .NET make application integration easier?

The use of XML-an open standard managed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)-in Microsoft .NET removes barriers to data sharing and software integration. The Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), an XML-based messaging technology standardized by the W3C, specifies all the necessary rules for locating XML Web services, integrating them into applications, and communicating between them. A common language runtime (CLR) provides a unified management environment, enabling XML Web services written in any programming language to work together. .NET also has database access capabilities, allowing developers to bring ODBC-compliant data stores into their application architecture.

Additionally, Microsoft .NET allows IT departments to reduce internal costs and expand the capabilities they can deliver to their customers by enabling them to tap their legacy applications and data stores, and other vendors' XML Web services for expertise and outsourced services. Microsoft .NET is designed to enable aggregation of services from multiple sites and companies into valuable experiences for users.

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7). Why should developers choose .NET instead of other XML platforms?

The Microsoft .NET platform delivers the following unique benefits to developers:

• It's easier, faster, and less expensive to build and integrate XML Web services through the tools of the .NET platform (.NET Framework and Microsoft Visual Studio® .NET).
• The user experience is richer and more compelling because of smart devices and information agents.
• The .NET experience is personal and manageable because of identity-centric building block services, such as .NET My Services.
• It's built from the ground-up for the next generation of software with XML at the core.

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8). What are the benefits of the .NET programming model and tools?

.NET Framework offer the following benefits to developers:

• Best, fastest and least expensive way to build XML Web services
• Programming model designed from the ground up for XML Web services
• High productivity, multi-language environment for building and running XML Web services
• Secure, scalable, high-performance execution
• Multi-device support. Through Visual Studio .NET and the .NET Compact Framework, developers can use existing skills to create solutions for a wide range of devices.